Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has showered praise on young Black Stars defender Caleb Yirenkyi following his standout performance in Ghana’s friendly match against Wales.
Yirenkyi capped an impressive display with his maiden goal for the national team, earning admiration from fans and former players alike ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after the game, Gyan described the 20-year-old as one of Ghana’s brightest emerging talents, highlighting his intelligence, movement, and all-round contribution on the pitch.
“Caleb Yirenkyi is a natural talent. He is rising up. He is very, very incredible. Yesterday, everybody saw what he did. Not only the goal, but his positioning, his passing, the way he follows attack and everything. I think he is an all-round player,” Gyan said.
The former Black Stars skipper also took pride in seeing Yirenkyi score while wearing Ghana’s iconic number three jersey, drawing comparisons with former defender Jonathan Mensah, who also netted his first international goal in the same shirt.
“Wearing the number 3 shirt and also scoring a goal. You know this isn’t the first time. Jonathan Mensah also scored his first goal in the number 3 shirt. Wearing the number 3 shirt, I feel proud,” he added.
Yirenkyi’s performance has strengthened his growing reputation within the national team setup and comes at an important time as Ghana finalise preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama, with expectations rising around a new generation of players eager to make their mark on football’s biggest stage.
For Gyan, Yirenkyi’s emergence is another positive sign that Ghana’s future remains in safe hands as the country looks ahead to the World Cup and beyond.